MEPs to visit Famagusta following a petition by the Refugees' Movement

MEPs to visit Famagusta following a petition by the Refugees' Movement

The European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions has discussed a petition by the Famagusta Refugees’ Movement to be allowed to return to the town of Famagusta. The EP Committee intents to send a delegation of MEPs to visit Famagusta and the fenced off city of Varosha between November 25 – 28. The Famagusta Refugees’ Movement demands the return of their home town to its lawful inhabitants and stresses that although being European Union citizens, they are still deprived from their fundamental right to return to Famagusta. During the discussion, Cypriot MEP Yiannakis Matsis (EPP) said that the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants would contribute to the creation of a better climate between the two communities in Cyprus (Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot) and would pave the way for a Cyprus solution. Greek MEP Manolis Mavrommatis expressed the view that the MEP delegation to visit Famagusta should only examine the petition of the Refugees’ Movement so that the issue remains within the terms of mandate of the EP Committee. According to the website of the Famagusta Refugees’ Movement, the Movement has been established upon the initiative of certain personalities from Famagusta. “Up to this day and although 30 years have passed, the standstill situation of the city of Famagusta constitutes perhaps the most dramatic aspect of the occupied land issue, since it still remains a Ghost Town. The extent of the damage caused is invaluable and it causes disgrace for the current European reality”, the Movement’s website says.